Filling selective device for shuttleless looms



May 12, 1970 A. J. ToscHEs 3,511,284

FILLING SELCTIVE DEVICE FOR SHUTTLELESS LOOMS INVENTOR A NTHONY JTOSCHES @im @W ATTORNEY May 12, 1970 A. J. ToscHEs y 3,511,284

FILLING SELECTIVE DEVICE FOR SHUTTLELESS LOOMS Filed July 30, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 am am ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,511,284 FILLING SELECTIVE DEVICE FOR SHUTTLELESS LOOMS Anthony J. Tosches, Milford, Mass., assgnor to North American Rockwell Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa., a

corporation of Delaware Filed July 30, 1968, Ser. No. 748,732 Int. Cl. D03d 47/34 U.S. Cl. 139-122 11 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE Mechanism for presenting either of two strands of filling being drawn from outside sources of supply for insertion into warp sheds to form a fabric having alternatlng stripes of predetermined widths.

BACKGROUND OF THE -INVENTION This invention pertains to shuttleless looms of the type where cut lengths of filling from an outside source are inserted into individual warp sheds. More particularly this invention pertains to improved mechanism for alternately presenting filling drawn from two sources for insertion for varied time intervals to form contrastlng stripes in the `woven material. The invention is directed toward simplified mechanism whereby pivotally movable thread guides may alternate between inoperative and operative positions in any prescribed order. A locking device automatically releases one thread guide for operation when actuated to hold the other in an inoperatlve position.

Filling selection in shuttleless looms of the prior art has required rather complicated mechanism and has been cramped for space, in that little is available in the area adjacent the reciprocative lay members. Duplicate sets of filling control parts have often been necessary to provide the functions of gripping, cutting, and second-pick positioning to each strand of filling. Other devices ha've been found not completely satisfactory due to dificulty in maintaining accurate settings. Timing and positioning of the chosen thread guide is critical and proper functioning of the selecting device depends upon the accuracy of the moving guides. A selective filling mechanism is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,323,556 and a shuttleless loom to which the mechanism might be applied is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,604,123.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention provides two-color filling selection by selectively varying the paths of two yarns so that one is placed in position to be woven while the other is inactive. Pivotable thread guides align the selected yarn with the otherwise standard filling control mechanism for weaving in a manner well known with this shuttleless type of loom. Pivotal motion is transmitted to the thread guides by two rack gears carrying cam follower rollers which may selectively conform to identical rotating cams. The two cam followers are controlled in opposition, in and out of action, by a selection lever supported for movement between two positions. One position of the selection lever acts to lock a cam follower out of action and release the other, while the other position permits the reverse action to occur.

It is a general object of the invention to devise mechanism to coact with the filling control motion of a shuttleless loom which shall permit a choice in two-color filling for selected intervals.

It is a further object of the invention to devise a filling rice selective device having few moving parts and motion thereof reduced to a minimum.

It is a further object to provide simple mechanism to alternately lock and release two thread guides in a manner to restrain one inactively while the other functions to present yarn for any desired time interval.

It is a still further object to effect the lock and release functions by a short, straight-line motion easily provided by a variety of known patterning devices.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent as further details are disclosed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be described by reference to a specific embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying figures of drawing, wherein:

FIG. l is a plan view of the selective device fixed to the filling control mechanism;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view in perspective of a portion of that shown in FIG. l; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of that shown in FIG. l, but with one of the thread guides moved to a second position for presenting filling.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Now referring to FIG. l, a filling control mechanism generally designated 20 is fixed upon framework members 21 and 22 of a shuttleless type loom `well known in the weaving art. The filling control mechanism is shown in phantom lines to distinguish the positioning of the invention and only those portions necessary to a complete understanding will be listed here. A tensioning device 23 through which two continuous strands of filling 24 and 25 are drawn as received from two outside sources of supply (not shown). The filling strands 24 and 25 are supported in separation by two generally horizontal rods 26 and 27 and threaded through two thread guide eyes 28 and 29 (FIG. 3) which will be more fully explained below. The filling strands are then extended to and controlled in a manner known in the art by a cutter-binder and combined second-pick positioner labeled here as 30. A depressor 31 will draw either filling strand 24 or 25 to a downwardly extending V formation to be there contacted and taken over by a filling carrier (not shown) fixed to a reciprocating tape 32.

The filling control mechanism thus far explained does not differ materially from that well known for handling a single strand of filling. This invention provides a device to cooperate with the known filling control mechanism for handling two strands of filling selectively.

The filling control mechanism 20 is driven by a shaft 33 (FIG. l) which is rotating a single revolution per two picks inserted by the loom. This same rotating speed is transmitted to the selective device of the invention by a sprocket 34 driving a link chain 35 in mesh with a second similar sprocket 36 fixed upon the outer end of a shaft 37. The shaft 37 is journalled between two sides of a housing 38 which is fastened to the framework member 22 by screws 39. Secured for rotation with shaft 37 are two synchronized identical cams 40 and 41.

Two cam follower rods 42 and 43, each freely supporting a cam follower roller 44 and 45 in positions to make contact with cams 40 and 41 respectively. The cam follower rods 42 and 43 are slidably supported upon the housing 38 with their positions being maintained by a plate 46 fxedly fastened by screws 47. Rod 42 has rigidly fastened at its outer end by a screw 48 a vertically extending bracket 49 having at the upper end thereof a tension spring 50 interconnecting a pin 51 fixed into the plate 46. The spring 50 maintains a continual tension urging the roller 44 toward its cam 40. At the lower end of the bracket 49 is a cam follo-wer extension rod 52 secured by nuts 53 threaded thereon. The rearwardly extending end of extension rod 52 is formed with teeth as a rack gear 54. Cam follower rod 43 is equipped similarly to the rod 42 with a bracket 55 fastened by a screw 56 to its outer end and a tension spring 57 interconnecting a pin 53 xed to the plate 46. A second cam follower extension rod 59 (FIG. 3) is connected to the bracket 55 by nuts 60 and a rack gear 61 is formed upon the rearward end of the extension rod 59. The extension rod 52 overlies extension rod 59 vertically and each is moved linearly by the rollers 44 and 45.

A supporting bracket 62 fastened to the control mechanism 20 by screws 63 has a vertically disposed stud 64 extending therethrough (FIG. l). A downwardly bent arm 65 is welded to a small gear 66 and both are pivotally held on the stud 64 with the gear 63 meshing with and rotated by the rack gear 54. F astened to the arm 65 by a screw 67 is a generally horizontally held thread guide positioner `68 which carries at its rearward end the thread guide eye 29. Below the small gear 66 and pivotable on the stud 64 is a second small gear (not shown) of equal size and meshing with rack gear 61 and it is Welded to another bent arm 69 having, fastened by a screw 70, a second generally horizontally held thread guide positioner 71 which carries at its rearward end the thread guide eye 28. It will be seen that the actuating means, commencing at the two cams 40 and 41, will provide pivotal movement to the thread guide positioners 68 and 71 individually by moving each between inactive and active positions to be further explained below.

Because the cams 40 and 41 are identical, and their action upon the thread guide positioners is similar, it is believed necessary to explain the motion produced by only one. In FIG. l, cam 40 is maintained in contact With the follower roller 44 by the spring 50. The cam 40 provides upon each revolution a three-stage movement to the follower in timed relationship with the reciprocating tape 32 as it inserts two picks of filling. Follower rod 42 and extension rod 50 are moved linearly only, so as to maintain accurate control and the rack gear 54 will pivot the thread guide positioner 68 to proper locations for eicient operation. The positioner 68 is movable in a three-location cycle, from an inactive location to a lirst active location where an initial pick of the cycle is presented to the depressor 31 and then to a second active location where the linal pick of the cycle is presented and returned to the inactive position. This cycle may be repeated indefinitely or terminated whenever the inactive position is reached. Either thread guide positioner 68 or 71 may be selected to move through the above cycle and means for effecting the selection will now be explained.

An angular bracket 72 securely fastened to the plate 46 pivotally supports a generally triangular lever 73 upon a bolt 74 (FIG. 2). Fastened to the upper end 75 of the lever 73 is an operating wire 76 extending to a suitable patterning device 77 which can effect a signal for a color change. The patterning device 77 may be one of a number of such known devices, it being necessary only to effect pulling and release actions t the operating wire 76 in time with the cams 40 and 41 and in accordance with any predetermined pattern.

Two downwardly directed arms 78 and 79 of the lever 73 are each disposed above the heads of two vertically positioned locking bolts 80 and 81 respectively (FIG. 2). The bolts 80 and 81 are loosely supported vertically by holes (not shown) in the plate 46. The bolt 81 is encircled by a compression spring 82 which bears upon the plate 46 and urges the head of bolt 81 into contact with the arm '79. The function of spring 82 is simply to raise the bolt 81 when permitted to do so by the arm 79 being drawn upwardly. A stronger compression spring 83 is similarly arranged upon the bolt 80 and, in addition to raising the bolt 80 will also raise arm 78 and pivot the lever 73 so as to depress the bolt 81 when a release signal is received from the patterning device 77.

In the upper surface of the cam follower rod 42 is a striker channel 84 to provide a latch into which the bolt may be pressed and thus lock the rod 42 from further movement. The striker channel 84 is indexed below the bolt 80 at the highest rise point of cam 40 and when the thread guide positioner 68 is in the inactive position. The cam follower rod 43 has a striker channel 85 in its upper surface which will index similarly with the bolt 81 and when actuated by the arm 79 will assume the position shown in FIG. 2. Each of the bolts 80 and 81 is urged upwardly against the lever 73 by its particular compression springs 83 and 82. The lever 73 in reciprocating within its pivotal arc will depress one locking bolt and release the other alternately.

In operation the patterning device is prepared in a manner to activate the lever 73 to lock one cam follower rod 42 or 43 and to release the other for as many cycles as are desired. This permits one thread guide positioner to present its filling so that cut lengths may be inserted in the usual manner. Filling from two sources of supply may be drawn selectively to form alternating lling-wise stripes of random widths simply by patterning the restraining action of the pivotable lever 73. The rotating cams 40 and 41 deliver positive motion to one cam follower at a time to move its particular thread guide positioner to the inactive position. The springs 50 and 57 continually bias the thread guide positioners toward active positions with only a selected one being permitted to pivot.

I claim:

1. For the iilling control mechanism of a shuttleless loom of the type wherein cut lengths of iilling being fed from independent sources of supply are presented to reciprocating carrier means for insertion to said loom, a filling selective device which comprises (a) a plurality of thread guiding members pivotally supported coaxially, each being adapted to be threaded with lling from a separate one of said sources of supply,

(b) each one of said guiding members being movable between inactive and active positions,

(c) a gear ixedly secured to each one of said guiding members,

(d) actuating means individual to each one of said guiding members each including a continually rotating cam and a linearly movable cam follower responsive to said cam,

(e) each of said cam followers having a rack gear portion in meshing relationship with the fixed gear of one of said guiding members, and

(f) selective operative means for moving one of said guiding members to said active position While precludiug movement of the others of said guiding members into said active positions.

2. In a shuttleless loom a illing control mechanism therefor of the type wherein cut lengths of filling fed from independent sources of supply are presented to a reciprocating carrier of the loom for insertion in the loom, said lling control mechanism comprising (a) a plurality of thread guiding members each adapted to be threaded with lling from a separate one of said sources,

(b) means pivotally supporting said guiding members for independent pivotal movements about a common axis between active and inactive positions,

(c) an actuating member individual to an operatively connected to each one of said guiding members, said actuating me-mbers each having active and inactive positions corresponding to the active and inactive positions of their associated guiding members,

(d) a power driven cyclically moving member common to said actuating members, and

(e) selectively operative means for operatively engaging individual ones of said actuating members with said power driven member whereby the selected actuating member and associated guiding member are moved into and out of their active positions under control of and in timed relation with the cyclical operation of said power driven member.

3. The device as set forth in claim 2 which further includes tensioning means for biasing each one of said guiding members toward said active positions.

4. The device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said restraining means includes a reciprocating lever being adapted to pivot in one direction to lock a first of said guiding members in an inactive position and to release a second of said guiding members, and to pivot in a second direction to lock the said second of said guiding members and to release the -frst of said guiding members.

S. The device as set forth in claim 3 wherein said restraining means includes latching means individual to each said cam follower for locking each one of said guiding members in said inactive position.

6. The device as set forth in claim 5 wherein said latching means includes a separate striker channel carried upon each of said cam followers, and a locking bolt disposed for being urged into each said channel.

7. The device as set forth in claim 6 which further includes compressive members for continually urging said locking bolts out of said channels,

8. The device as set forth in claim 9 wherein said restraining means further includes a reciprocating lever being disposed for contact with said locking bolts for alternately urging said locking bolts into said channels.

9. The device as set forth in claim 8 wherein said rotating cams are identical in form and are positioned for dictating synchronized response, said cams during each revolution Ibeing adapted to present a three-stage movement to said cam followers.

10. The device as set forth in claim 9 wherein each said three-stage movement of said cam followers translates a three-position cycle to one said guiding member when released by said latching means.

11. The device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said rotating cams are identical in form and are positioned for dictating synchronized response.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,817,367 12/ 1957 Pfarrwaller. 3,342,220 9/ 1967 Bartosek et al.

FOREIGN PATENTS 45 8,695 8/ 1950 Italy.

HENRY S. .IAUDON Primary Examiner gg@ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTION Patent No. 3, 51]., 284 Dated My l2, 1970 Inventor(s) ANTHONY J. TOSCHES It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 4, line 67, change "an" (second occurrence) to and SIGNED ANL SEALED SEP 1 am) Attest:

om mwa n. m. Anm-m5 V Gomissioner of Patents 

